Surname Brooking - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Brooking: What does the surname Brooking mean?
The surname "Brooking" is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English words for "brook" or "stream" and the suffix "-ing." It was generally used to describe a person who lived near a brook or stream, and was often given to people in medieval times as a geographical identifier. Over time, "Brook" or "Brooks" would have been the immediate descendant from the Old English words and later evolved into "Brooking". The "-ing" is a patronymic suffix, indicating "son of" or "descendant of". So "Brooking" might also mean "descendant of Brooks". As such, the surname could feasibly represent lineage being traced back to someone named Brook or Brooks. Like other surnames, it was passed down through generations, and can now be found all over the world, albeit with varying levels of commonality.
Order DNA origin analysisBrooking: Where does the name Brooking come from?
The surname Brooking is of English origin, believed to be derived from Brooking, a hamlet in the parish of Cookbury, North Devon, England. It was typically used to identify people who resided near a stream or a brook (from the Old English word 'broc'). This type of locational surname became necessary when individuals moved from their birthplace, thereby taking the name of their hometown as a means of identification.
Although there are some variations of its spelling including Brookin and Brokking, the surname Brooking is relatively uncommon. The surname has dispersed over time, and today it can be found in various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. Most individuals with the Brooking surname are located in the United States, England, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
It's specifically common in the South-West of England, in counties like Devon and Cornwall. In the United States, the highest concentration of people with the Brooking surname is found in the states of Virginia and Georgia. Despite its spread globally, the surname Brooking is not particularly common, making it fairly unique.
Variations of the surname Brooking
The surname Brooking is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name Broc. The numerous spellings of Brooking reflect the various regional dialects and phonetic spellings used during the Middle Ages. The first recorded spelling in the 13th century was as Broking.
Variant spellings of the surname Brooking include Brookin, Brookin, Brookings, Brookins, Brokings, Brokins, and Brookinges. The 's' at the end of some variants is a patronymic suffix, implying 'son of'.
Occasionally, the surname can be traced back to the place-name Brooking in Devon, South West England, and individuals with this surname may have been named after the location. It's also suggested that the name could have originated from an occupation, for example, a person who worked with brooks or streams could be known as a 'Brooking'. Therefore some people with this surname share only a common occupational ancestry rather than a common bloodline.
Surnames of a similar origin include Brooke, Brook, Brooks, and Brock, all deriving from the Old English 'broc', meaning stream.
Remember, the spelling of surnames may have changed over centuries due to illiteracy or transcription errors. So, genealogical research often requires examining all possible spellings.
Famous people with the name Brooking
- Sir Trevor Brooking: An English former footballer, manager, and sports broadcaster, Brooking played most of his career for West Ham United. He was knighted in 2004 for his services to sport.
- F. Halsey Brooking: An American designer of the mid-twentieth century, Brooking was a noted industrial and furniture designer.
- Tom Brooking: An academic historian from New Zealand, he is a specialist in environmental history and the history of Scottish immigration to New Zealand.
- Chris Brooking: A former Australian footballer, he played as a defender in the National Soccer League.
- Avis Gray Dunn Brooking: This artist was well known for her fresh, colorful impressionist plein air landscapes and studio paintings of Vermont and New Brunswick scenes.
- Carl Brooking: A rally co-driver from New Zealand, he participated in several international rally championships.
- Robert S. Brooking: This American was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the state's 35th district from 1976 till 1986.
- Keith Brooking: An American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons.